Comanche Nation Pushing for Proper Graves for Ancestors

FORT SILL Okla_ Some Comanche Nation
members are fighting for their right to properly mourn their ancestors, who are
buried in a now-hidden grave site on Fort Sill.

The Fort Sill Indian Agency Cemetery is located
underneath Fort Sill's Henry Post Airfield. The
cemetery was built around 1870, but the government annexed the land in 1917. Since then, the grave markers have been
removed and the plots covered in soil. Relatives of the buried say they
want justice for their ancestors.

There
are over 100 known grave sites, but less than 70 have been identified. To make
matters worse, the plots are completely covered. So, many people who have
relatives buried there do not know exactly where they are. Now, this dispute
has been going on for decades, but the man who's been fighting it for the last
five years said he is very clear about what his people want.

"We want unfettered access to that cemetery," Tribal Member Wahnee
Clark said. "We want the graves uncovered, and we want markers put in place
there. We think that's the very least they could do. If this were a Caucasian
cemetery or a cemetery of military people, it would have been taken care of
long, long time ago."

The remains of Wahnee Clark's aunt and uncle are buried underneath this air
field: one of many in a vast unmarked grave site. Clark said a few years ago, he and his
wife decided enough was enough.

"We took eight to ten inches of soil off the top of my uncle and aunt's
grave," Clark said. "Shortly thereafter, we got a letter from Fort Sill saying
we were subject to a $10,000 fine and one year in jail for disturbing an
archeological site."

Clark said he responded with a scathing letter to Fort Sill, who later issued
an apology over the letter. He said his mission to resurrect the cemetery has
been filled with false hope.

"We went through what they called Phase One and Phase Two of a
consultation with Fort Sill," Clark said. "The result of that is we were going
to get all that we wanted from what we called a list of ten. When we got
through with that, General Halverson said he wanted to get it done."

That never happened, but Clark said he'll keep fighting. The Fort Sill Indian
Agency Cemetery's website quotes Benjamin Franklin. It reads "Show me your
cemetery, and I will tell you what type of people you are." Clark said this
powerful quote is an expression of why this almost-forgotten grave is so
important to his people.

"If you take care of the remembrance of your departed, that shows you have
character," Clark said. "That character is exhibited in how you take care of
the cemeteries. I think Fort Sill has let us down on this cemetery. "

7News has contacted Fort Sill to find out what they have been doing to resolve
this issue since Halverson left command. The post was unable to offer an
official comment, because the person who could answer that question was not
available due to the Memorial Day holiday. They said they would try to get us
an answer later this week.

Clark said Comanche Nation elders are supposed to meet with the military in the
next few weeks to try and reach an agreement.

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